Gear-cutting machine



v H. J; svcHMicK. -GEAR comm mcnm. .APPLICATION BLEU'. soy. 25, w14.

" 'manned rime 29, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

40 formed, the blank sfr-Ares ".PATENT'. oFFl amarti? J. scHMIc'K, or. LocKrIAvEN, PENNSYLVANIA.

. eEAacu'rrINe MACHINE.

rampas.

b allwhom z' mag/:concern:

Be tknown that l, HENRY J. Solarium,

- a citizen ofthe United'Statesfr'esiding at.

Lock Haven,

inthe county of Clintonl and State of Pennsylvania', have yinvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Gear- CuttingMachines; and l do hereby declarei the following to be a full; clear', and exact description of theinvention, such as will 'en'- able others skilled in the artto 'which it appertains to make and use the same'. rIhre invention relates to improvements in y gear cutting,y machines.` y

The primary object of ,the invention is to provide a machine for cutting gear wheels yof various forms in a single cycle of opera-v tion. One'of the objects of the invention isto provide a gear cutting machine' in which means are provided for continuallyT revolv-- ing a cutter, head inV unison with, and at right angles `to ,a gearblank so that the thrust of the working contours of the individual cutters is maintained in absolute right-angular relation' to the vpath ofV peripheral travel of the gear-blank throughout a continuous cycle 4of operation.

A, further object of the`invention is to I provide a gear cuitingmachine 'embodying means for revolving a cutter head in unison with and `at right anglesto a gear-blank to be cut, means being provided for varying the speed ratio of the cutter head to the gear-blank7 or vice versa, Wherebyfto adapt a given size of cutter head for cutting gearz.. blanks of various diameters.

ln carrying out my. invention I provide ',.a'fcutter head of such shapethat in any po-.

sition` in its rotation, the part in contact with the gear .blank will snugly it the teeth* being timed to rotate in I unison with the cutter duringy the cutting operation. r

The invention also comprehends improvements in the details of construction. and arrangement of .partswhich will be hereinaf-Y ter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. v

ln the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig.` '3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 gf rig. a.

`wheel beingjabout com pleted.

:the modified bearing face of the screw 13 supporting gral with the table, and

Y Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line (-Qof Fig.2.' f

'Fig l7l 1s a fragmentary vertical section on the line 7-7of Fig. 2.-

y Fig. S is a front view of the cutter on alarger scale; l Y y Va vertical longitudinal' section ,F-ig. 9 isy on the line .9.-9 of Fig. 8, but illustrating the-cutter acting on a gear blank, thegear Fig. 10v is anend view of the modified bearing face of 'a- Worksupport' Fig. 11 is a fragmentary endelev'ation of head.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the development of one set of-cutters.

Patented June 29,1920. y Application ledNovember 25,' 1914. Serial No. 873,928.

Fig.'13 is a diagrammatic section on the y line' 13-13 of Fig.. 12.

Fig. 14 is a similar view on the line 11b-#14,

.'Fig. -15 is a view similart Fig. 9; but illustrating the cutting element rotated a quarter turn.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

in whichv like characters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, the

.machine consists of a' bed-plate, A, having -Aof the yoke Lto receive a removable spurgear 7, while the forward end-of the same is flush with theface of-an abutment. 8, on the standard 3 ofthe yoke. Extending lon gitud'inally through the power shaft 5 is a passage l9, preferably rectangular in cross section, and communicating with the inner extremity. of a tapered socket 10 formed in the forward end of the power shatt 5,the

purpose of which tapered socket 10 will be hereinafter more fully set forth. c

The forward part of the bed plate A is formed with a raised rib 11 having ran i1pv wardly extended'portion to providel a. base 12 fo'r the reception of the a vertically .movable table 14.

passed through a bearing 15', formed inte i 1Sy lprovided with a bevel-gear 16' arranged inesh with a seclower end. of a For raising', and lowering -the table 414, the upper end of theyscrew 13 is body B.

ond bevel-gear 17 carried on a horizontally disposed' shaft 16 supported in bearings 19 and 2O, also formed integral with the table. The forward end of the shaft 18 is projected beyond the front wallof the table 14 and terminates in a squared end 21 adapted to receive a crank-handle 22 by means of which movement may be imparted to the screw 13. rlhe table 14 is,v provided with flanges 23 in sliding engagement with guides 24 arranged at opposite sides of the front face of the A suitable threaded lock 25 is carried by either or both of the flanges 23 and is operable by means of a hand-lever 26 to engage the guides 24 in a manner to iminovably sustain the table 14 in any of its elevated positions with respect to the body B. rllhe opposite side edges of the table y14 are formed to provide guides 27 adapted for sliding engagement with the guide-.Ways '28 of the head C, and which head consistsof a base-plate 29 formed with a pair of spaced standards l30, each shaped to provide relatively heavy bearings 31-32 power shaft 5.

rformed as the usual split bearing-sleeves end of the work shaft 33 is placed a work- 39-against which is to be rigidly clamped a supporting plate-33, such supporting plates v38V being made in different sizes, each of whichis to be used with a corresponding sized gein-blank, snugly contacting the face gear-blank 5, by means of a securing nut 40. The face 39 of the bearing 32 may be a plane surface, asshovvn4 in Fig. 5, or it may be cored to provide a lseries vof rings 41, vas illustrated in l? ig. 11, to. form individual supporting surfaces for the work supporting plates 38 of different-diameters, the latter yin' some instances, being cored to provide .a circular flange 43, as shown in lig. 10,'same being adapted to abut the face of a ring 41 of corresponding size on the bearing surface or face 39; j

For the purpose of revolving the gear blank D, the work shaft 33 is providedl with a gear 44 housed between the standards 30 and arranged in mesh with a worm-gear 45 carried on a stub-shaft 46 mounted in bearings 47-48 formed on the base-plate 29 of vthe head. rl`he vrear end of the stub-shaft -46 terminates in a flexible coupling 49 connecting with alsection 50 .of a ytelescopic ieeaoae shaft which has other sectior 51 connected by means of a second flexible coupling 52 to a second stub-shaft 53 mounted in a bearing 54 formed on the standard 2 of the yoke 1. 'i gear is carried by the stub-shaft 53 and is adapted to mesh with the gear 7 mounted on the power shaft 5, both of which 'gears are removable from their shafts and may be replaced by similar gears of varying diameter combinations for any desired speed ratio between the work! supporting shaft 33 and the powerrshaft 5, since the proper cutting of the gear teeth 56 on the periphery of a gear-blank by Smeans of Va critter of a given size is dependent upon a predetermined ratio of speed between these shafts, or, in other words,

the speed of the work-shaft 33l must be increased or decreased laccording to an increase or decrease in the diameter of a gearblank to be cut by a critter of a given diameter'. j

lFor placing the gear-blank in proper position with respect to the cutter E, the head C is moved along the guides 27 of the table' 14 by means of a screw` shaft 59 in threaded engagement with a depending shoulder 58' formed on the under face of the base plate 29 and supported at its opposite ends in suitable bearings 60. For manually operating the screw-shaft'59, the same is provided with a gear 61 in Vmesh with a worm-,gear 62 carried by a shaft 63 supported at right angles to the-screw shaft-.and at its opposite ends by bearings 64--65, the forward end of the shaft 63 being projected beyond the side wall of the table 14 and formed with a squared end for the reception of a hand-crank 66.

ForA automaticall feeding the head and blank to the cutter Vuring'the cutting opera tion, the shaft -63 isV provided with a bevel gear 67 meshing w'ith a second bevel gear 68 mounted onthe adjacent end of a shaft-section 69 supported in bearings 70 located on i the side wall of the table 14the other end of the shaft 69 is providedwith a clutch ele, ment 71 adapted to beengagedbya movable clutch element 72 carried by the adjacent end `of a second shaft-section 73 supported inthe bearings 74 and.7 5 on the body ld. The rea-r end of the shaft-section 73 is connected by means ofja flexible coupling 76 to a section 77 of a telescopic shaft the second telescopic section 78'is connected by means of a second flexible coupling-79% the adjacent end of a stub-shaft 80 mounted in a bearing 81, and having its other end projecting beyond the izo rear face of the Vbody B to support a stepped pulley 32 adapted to be driven by means of a belt connection (not shown) to a second stepped pulley 33 mounted on a stub-shaft 84 supported in a bearing 85 and which in turn is driven by means of the meshing gears 86, 87. and 83., from the power shaft 5.

For automatically disconnecting the power feed from the head C, the base plate 429 of the head is provided" with a groove 89 in which is adjustably mounted a stop 90 which is provided with a depending finger 91 adapted to strike a clutch ring 492 which is pivoted tothe table A14C at 98 and which "engages the movable clutch member 72 and moves the latter outof engagement with the v fixed clutch element 7l when the predeter-v mined feed limit of the head is reached.

lt is obvious that the aforesaid telescopic I shaft construction admits of continuous drive of the moving parts ofthe head C- throughout fthe limits of desired movementv of the latter and the adjustment of the table with 'respect to the body.

Referring more paricularly to Figs. 8 and '9 ofthe drawing,iE designates a disk-shaped cutter head having an interiorly threaded socket 94 formed in its rear face to receive the threaded extremity 'of a tapered shank 95 which is to be inserted into the similarly tapered socket 10 of the power shaftl 5, aforementioned7 the opposite extremity of the,

shank 95 terminating in a squared projection 96 adapted for engaging with the passage 9 extending through the power shaft, which' passage 9 is provided for the insertion therethrough of a suitable implement or tool (not shown) to jar the tapered shaft 94 loose from the socket 10, when it `is desired to'remove Athe cutter from themachine.'

The outer face of the cutter head E is provided with a plurality of sets of cutters 97`-98, two being shown.

It is' important that the cutters be so shaped and arranged in a j outermost cutters becomes reversed with refcurved line with reference to the axis of the disk. that the'successive cuts, made in' the blank will be exactl -an equal distance apart to `produce finishe parallel gear teeth of equal depth. The body of each cutter is ar.

rangedl at a different angle from that of the adjacent cutter. Thatis the cutter at the root of the curved line offeach set inclines outwardly toward the circumference of the disk, and the inclination of the succeeding cutters gradually changes inl a direction toward the vcenter of said disk, until the inv cli'nation of the respective -bodies of the erence to the innermost cutters. u

By this change of inclination of the cutters in each set, the inner cutting edges d, of the innermost 'cutters will out one wa'll of a tooth e, on the blank as the latter ap? proaches a horizontal line f, (Fig. 9) while the outer cutting edges g of the same cutters act to form the opposite surface of thev adjacent Atooth e, 'the latter surface at this time being at right angles to the face of the disk, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 9. Of course the successiveI changing incl1na tion of the outer cutting edges d and g actV to cut the walls 0f the gear teeth ,as lthe v the cutting edges ofblank advances with reference tothe'hori- Zontal line f. For/instance, the cutting edges g, Aat the root of the curve cut on a line substantially parallel with the axis of the disk E, and the gradually increasing angular-'ity of the edges g will, when forming a gear wheel, cut on a lineparallel with the radius of the gear blank, as shown in Fig. 9. The same cutting action takes place with reference to the cutting edges ,pconsequentl'yl in any position'of the cutters and the blank, when in cutting position, the anl gularity of the cutting edges d and g will cause them to cut on lines parallel with the lradius of the gear blank, the blank, of.

course, .beingdisposed at-right'angles to the cutting disk. The ends of the two sets of cutters, as shown, are spaced apart equal tothe thickness of one tooth, the outer end of one set everlapping the inner end of the companion set, so that in each revolution of thecutting disk there are two periods when both sets of cutters act on the blank. as

shown in Fig. 9. Hence the cutting edges of the companion set of cutters act vto cut on an inclined line as described with refer-4 ence to cutters d, while the corresponding edges d, of the same cutters act to c ut on a l line parallel with the axis of the cutter lhead, as previously described with reference to the cutting edges g, but of course these cutters are cutting on another tooth indicated at e.

It is essential at this time toy understand that each set of cutters is laid out on `a curve struck from as many centers, and the cutting edges are made and shaped` to cut into the blank to form parallelteeth. While the curved line arrangement of the cutters is not, strictly sneaking, a spiralf it more feature. l

lIn addition to the inclination of the side nearlv approaches this term, and therefore. ,Y for clearness. the term spiralistic will be' employed in the claims to designate this edges of the cutters, to form the wallsof the teeth, the forward or front edges :of the cutters incline with reference to the face of the disk. and they are also dished or curved to `form the bottom walls of the spaces between the gear teeth. and the surface m between and adjacent the sets of cutters* is formed on an arc struck from the center ot the blank. rlhe front faces an et 'fthe cutters, are curved in cross section to i the development ot one set of cutters drawn out. In this figure, 7s indicates the inner end of one'setjot cutters, and Zis the outer end. Theinner edges ot the cutters are in*A dicatedat in, and the outer e "ges at n. The innerA edges of the cutters v`incline downwardly from the point m to a, point 0, while the outer edges incline upwardly from the point a, at the inner end toa point 0 `at the outer end. The two inclinations of the respective edges are reversed and cross each other at about the point p.

The front tace g. formed between the two inclined edges inclines radially in opposite 'directions from the point 79, as shown in Figs. 13 andy 14, the two inclinations gradually increasing from point p, toward the ends, as shown. ln addition to the front face of the cutters .nclining in opposite di-I rections, theyare dished on an `arc struck from the center'ot the gear blank to cut ben tween the teeth, as shown at r. ,l

It is to be noted that the opposite ends m, o and n, 0 of each set of cutters are eX- actlythe same distance from the tace of' thev disk, consequently .when the two overlapping sets are acting on a blank the Vproper angles will be presented to form the teeth. f

It isthought that thel purpose of varying Ftheangular aces of the cutters will be appreciated. From Fig. 9 it will be seen that the kangular faces of the cutters snugly lit in.

andcorrespond with thegear teeth on the blank when -the two overlapping sets ot cutters are operating' 'In the instance shown, the greatest diameteroi' one set oit' cutters, and the -smaller diameter ot the companionset of -cutters are shown as engaging with the blank,the two sets of cutters acting simultaneously to form the teeth. Now let it be assumed that the disk has made about a quarter turn, or the point 72 in the diagram is in cutting position as shown in Fig. 15. In this instance but one set-of cutters is acting on the blank. It is evident however that the cutting action and unison of movement of the cutters and blank, when the disk is in this position is exactly the same as when'the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 9. Y'

-lt' is to be fully understood that the cutter I head E may be of any desired diameter and that the curved formation of the cutters may be increased or decreased in suitabler proportions to contorni to any of such diameters as may be required without departing from the spirit of the invention.

F rom the foregoing description it will be seen that l have provideda gear cutting machine which will produce a completed gear wheel without further finishing.

By adjusting the blank on its support-to change the peripheral face with reference to the center ot the cutting disk, the angular arrangement'ot the teeth can be altered, and as stated, by changing the timing gears the number of teeth cut in the gear blank can likewise be changed.

I am aware it is old in the art to form partially completed gears of various'styles by rotating the cutter and the blank, but l am not aware of it being old to torni in 85 single ope ationl a completed gear wheel by disposing the gear blank at Vright angles to a cutter projecting axially from adisk and so shaped as to cut teeth of even depth on the blank and rotate the blank and cutters i' continuously and in unison.

What is claimed is z- 1. ln a gear cutting machine,l the combination of a cutter head having a pluralityv ot cutters projecting from one tace thereof, said cutters being arranged in a curved line, each succeeding cutter being located a greater dishead, means for continuously rotating .the

gear blank holder and the cutter head in unison, and means for creating `continuous relative movement before the cutter movement and the gear blank holderv during the cutting operation.

2. ln a gear cutting machine, the combina- 'tion of a cutter headh having a plurality ot .spiralistically arranged cutters; on one tace thereof, each succeeding cutter having its sides cut at a different angle, a gear blank holder having its aXis at right angles to the axis ot the cutter .he ad,smeans for continuously rotating the blank holder and the cutter head in unison, andmeans for constantly moving the gear blank holder toward `the 'cutter head during the entire cutting operation.

3.` ln a gear cutting machine, the combination ot a longitudinal power shaft, acutter head carried by thepower shaft, said cutter head having a plurality ot cutters on its tace, the side edges ot each succeedingcutter beingat ditlerent angles, a gear blank supporting vshaft having its axis at right angles to the axis of the powershatt to support a means for continuously rotating gear blank at right angles to the cutter head, for adjusting the work shaft relative to the power shaft, means for manually or automatically moving the gear blank support toward the cutters during thev entire cutting operation, and means for varying the speed ratio between the power shaftand the work shaft. l i

il. In a gear cuttin machine, the combina tion of a cutter hea provided with a plurality of axially disposed cutters on its front face disposed in a curved line,1each l succeeding cutter being arranged at a dii'erent angle and the side edges f of each succeeding cutter being at different angles, a Igear blank 'supporting shaft having its axis at right angles to riphery of a gear. blank to theaxis of the cutters, means for rotating the cutter `head and gear blank support in unison, and means for creating constant relative movement between the cutter head and the gear blank supporting shaft at the time of cutting teeth Y' in the blank. 25

5. In a gear cutting machine, the com- -bination of acutter head ha'ving on one face thereof a. plurality of spiralistically arn'anged cutters,'the faces of the Succeeding cutters beingat diiferent angles and the side edges of each succeeding cutter being at dfferent angles, a. gear blankholder having its axis at right angles to the cutter head, means the blank holder and the cutter'head'in unison, and means for creating constant relative movement between the cutter head'and the blank holder at the tinieof cutting teeth on vlthe blank.

6. In a gear .cutting machine, the com-- bination of a cutter thereof two fsets of spiralistioally arranged cutters the side edges of each succeeding cutter being of different an les, one set of cutters overlapping the ot ier, a gear blank holder -having its axis at right angles to the axis of the cutter head, means for constantly and uniformly moving the gear blank holder in direction of the face of the cutter head,

and means for rotating the cutter head and the gear blank holder in unison during the cutting operation.

7. In a gear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter head havin on one face thereof two sets of spiralistica ly .arranged cutters, the inside edges of the cutters at the root of the curve being of agreater angle than the angle of the edges of the cutters at the outer end of the curve, and the angle of the outside edges of the cutters being the greatest at the-outer end of the curve, one

set of cutters overlapping the other, a gear blankholder having its axis at right angles to the axis of the cutter head, means for rotating the cutter head and thegear blank holder continuously and in unison, and

` at a dier'ent angle,

the .cutter` headptov present the pe head having on one face" `8. In a .gear cutting machine, ythe combination of a power shaft,`a cutter head car` ried by said power shaft and provided on one face with a plurality of axially disposed cutters arranged in a' curved line,

each succeeding cutter being arranged a verticallyv adjustable table mounted to be .moved vertically toele,

*.ward and from the cutter head, a gear blank support mounted on' the table and having n Iits axis at rightangles tothe axis of the cutter head, and means for constantly rotaty the side f edges of veach cutter being at. a different aning the 'gear blank supportl and the cutter l head in unison.

9. In a gearcutting machine, the combination of a power shaft, a cutter head carried by said power shaft arid provided on one' face with a plurality of. axially disposed to belmoved vertically toward and from right angles to the axis of the cutter head, means for constantly rotating the gear blank support and the cutter head in unison,

- cutters arranged in a curved line, the side avertically adjustable table mounted the cutter head, a gear blank support i mounted on the table and having its axis at f means for creating constant relative movement between'the cutter head andthe gear blank suppert, and meansfor varying the speed ratio between the gear blank holderand the cutter head. l

l0. In a gear cutting machine, the com- .bination of a shaft, a cutter head mounted on the shaft and provided on its front face with a set of axially disposed cutters,'each arranged at adili'erent angle and in a curved let line to provide on opposite sides of the cutters opposite inclined cutting edges which gradually increase in inclination toward opposite .ends ofthe set of cutters, a gear blank support having its' axis at right angles to the axis constantly rotating the cutter head' and the gear blank support in unison. 1

ll.- In a'gear cutting machine, the combination of a'sh'aft,'a cutter head carried by said shaft and provided on one face with a plurality of axially disposed cutters arranged in a curved line, the side edges of each cutter I being at different angles, and the side edges of each succeeding cutter being at different angles, a verticallyA adjustable table movable vertically toward and from the cutter head, a support mounted on the table,

of the cutter head, and means for means for moving the support longitudinally at right angles to the axis of the cutter head, means for varying thev speed ratio between the gear blank support and the cutter head, andl means for constantly creating relative movement between the gear blank support and cutter head during the cutting operation. l

12. In a gear cutting machine, thev combination of a cutter head provided on one face with a plurality of cutters, a table vertically adjustable towardand from the Vcutter head, a support on thetable movable longitudinally of the cu-tter head, a gear blank `support mounted on the first mentioned support and having its aXis atrright angles to the axis ofthe cutter head to hold a blank in position to cause its periphery to* be normally located toengage the face of the cutter head between the axis and the circumference of the latter, manual means for moving the support and the gear blank sup port longitudinally of the cutter head, means for constantly rotating the gear blank sup-A port and the cutter head in unison in one diy rection only to cut teeth on the periphery of theblank; and means for constantly creating relative movement in one direction only between the I gear blank support and the cutter head, the constant relative movement being of uniform speed throughout the entire operation of cutting allthe teeth on the A blank.

13. In agear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter head provided on one face with a'plurality of cutters, arranged in a curved line, a gear blank support having its axis at right angles to tlie axis of the cutter head to hold a blank in position to' cause its periphery to be normally located to engage the face of the cutter head between the axis and the circumference of the latter, means for rotating the gear blank support and cutter head'in unison in one direction onlyto cut teeth on the blank. means for constantly creating relative movementin one direction only between the gear blank support and the cutter head, means fot automatically stopping the rotation of the gear blank support and cutter head at a predetermined time, and means for changing the speed ratio between the cutter head and the gear blank support. y

1d. ln. a gear cutting machine, the conibination of a cutter head provided on one face with a set of cutters disposed at an gle to each other and in a cinved line to pim vide a plurality of side cutting edges of gradually increasing angularity from opposite ends of. the set of cutters, the forward cutting edges of the ,successive cutters to a point intermediate the length of the set .being inclined downwardly toward the head,

. and the forward edges of the remaining cuty in unison.

wardly toward the center'of the head, a gear blank support having its airis at right anglesto the cutter head, and means for constantly rotating the gear blank support and the cutter head in unison.

15. ln a gear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter head provided on one face with a set of cutters arranged in a curved line, the forward edges of the cutters at one end of the set inclining in one direction to a point intermediate the. length of said set of cutters and the edges of the remaining cutters being inclined in the opposite direction, a gear blank support having its axis at right angles to the cutter head,`and means for constantly rotating the cutter head and the gear blank support in unison. l

16. ln a gear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter head provided on one face with a set of cutters arranged. in a curved line, the forward edges of the cntters at one end of the set being curved and inclined in one direction to a point intermediate the length of said set of cutters and the edges of the remaining cutters being curved and inclined in the opposite direction,l a gear blank support having its axis 'two sets of cutters, the cutters of each set being arranged at a differentangl, one to the' other fand ina curved line, the ends of the two sets of cutters overlapping, the angular-ity of the outer cuttingedges of each curved set of cutters increasing from the inner end of the curved line toward the outer end thereof, and the inner cutting edges of each set of cutters increasing in angularity from the outer end of the curved line to the inner end thereof, a gear-blank supportlhav.- ing its axis at right angles to the cutter head, and means for continuously rotating the cutter head and the 18. lna gear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter head provided on one face with a plurality of outwardly projecting cutters arranged in a curved line prol rcs, the angular sucrant. nolder having its axis if i to the anis of the cutter be" f, periphery ot a gear blank in the presence of the cutters, means for continuously rotating the gear blank holder and the cutter head in unison, and means for creating constant relative movement between the gear blank holder and the cutter head during the cutting 0peration.

lcutterF ditlcning gear blank support head, the two setsof cutters overlapping and spaced apart at the ends, a gear blank having' ,plurality 'of cutters and the other carrying a blank on Awhich thecutters operate,rthe angles of the side edges of each successive i9. ln a gear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter head Aprovided on one' face with a plurality of axially Adisposed cutters arranged in a curved path, the for- Ward cutting edges of the respective cutters being at a different angle withA reference to the face of the cutter head, a gearblank holder-having its axis at right angles to the axis of the cutter head to hold the periphery of a gear blank in the path of the cutters,

and means for continuously rotating' the cutter blank holder and the cutter head in unison. j I 20. Ina gear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter head having two Sets of axially disposed. cutters projecting from one face thereof, each set of cutters being -ar'f ranged in a curved line and each succeeding cutter of each set being located a greater distance from the 'center of the cutter its axis holder at right anglesto the axis of the cutter head to present a gear blank at right anglesto. the said cutter head, and

means for continuously rotating the fgear' blank holder and the cutterhead inunison.'

21. In a gear cutting machine, the "combination of a cutter head having on one face a plurality of cutters so shaped and arranged as to cut finished parallel teeth in a gear blank, a gear blank holder having its axis at right angles.` to the axis of the cutter head to support a gear blank at right angles to the V'cutter head, means'fo-r continuously.

rotating the cutter head and the gear blank- 4holder at a uniform rate of speed during the' cutting operation,l and means' for confv` tinuously advancing the gear blank toward the cutters during the cutting operation.

22. ,In a gear cutting machine, the combination of two rotating elements one carrying a cutter differing, means for continuously rotating each of the elements in unison ata uniform speed during the cutting. operation, means for creating constant relative movement between the two elements during the.

cutting operation, means for raising and lowering the element carrying the blank,

and means for changing the speed ratio between the two elements.'

28. ln a gear cutting. Amachine the combination of a rotating cutter element and a rotating blank element, the axes of-said elements being at' right angles to each other and one being in advance of the other to cause the periphery of one element to at all times engage the face of the other element` between the axis and the circumference of the latter element, means for continuously rotating` the two elements in unison, the speed of each element remaining identically l table, a gear bearing and i the same from the beginning to the end of the cutting operation, and each continuing torotate in one direztion during the cutting operation, and 'means for creating constant uniform relative movement between the two elements during the cutting operation, the uniform relativevl movement being at all times parallel to the vaxis of'one of the elements.

'24. In a gear cutting machine, the com bination of a shaft, a cutter 'head mounted'- on the end of the sh'aft, the .front face of the cutter head having two 'sets of overlapping spiralistic" cutters, each succeeding cutter being at a different angle, and the opposite edges ing at differentangles, av vertically adjusts able-table, a bearing mounted to slide in the blank 'rotatably mounted in the adapted to carry 'a gear blank, the axes of the two shafts being arranged at gear blank support and neously sliding the gear blank support tol ward the face of the cutterhead during the cutting operation, and means for automatically' stopping theslidi'ng movement when the teeth are cut a predetermined depth. 25. VIn a gear cutting'm'achine, the combination of a frame, a shaft mounted in the 2 frame, a cutter head mounted on the frame,

said cutter head having two sets ofspirali/stic overlappingv cutters on its front face, each succeeding cutter having.;V itsv front face diiferently curved and its edges of different angles,

of each succeeding cutter be- I' l'right angles to each other, means 'for con- 1 .tinually rotating the Ythe cutter head in unison, and simultaa vertically adjustable table on the front of the frame, means forfvertically adjusting the table, a sldable bearing mounted ,on the table and provided with a bearing,

a cutter-head provided with a plurality of cutters and the othercarrying a gear blank,

means for constantly rotating the two shafts in unison, means for censtantly sliding one of the shafts toward the other to cause the cutters to cut while the two shafts are rotating, means for automatically stopping the sliding movement when teeth of predetermined depthhave been cut, and means for vertically adjusting one of the shafts to position a lank adjacent the cutter.

27. ln a gear cutting machine, the combination of ashaft, a cutter head mounted on'the end of the shaft and provided on 4its front face with a plurality of cutters, a shaft having its axis at right vangles to the axis of the first mentioned shaft and disposed out of axial alinement .therewith and adapted to support a gear blank, means for constantly rotating the two shafts in unison, and -simultaneously constantly moving the shaft carrying the gear blank in direction of the cutters during the cutting operation.

28. In a gear cutting machine, the combination vof a cutter head provided von its front face with aplurality of spiralistic cutters, each-having differing angular side edges and curvature on its front face, a gear blank support having its axis at right angles to the axis of the cutter head and disposed out of axial alinement therewith, and means for constantly rotating the cutter head and gear blank support in 'unison and simultaneously moving the gear -blank toward the cutters during the cutting operation.

29.-In a gear cutting machine, the com bination of a cutter head having two sets of cutters, each arranged in a curved line vand each overlapping-the other and. spaced apart, a gear blank holder having its axis at right angles to the 4axis of the cutter head, the axis of the gear blank holder being disposed to locate the periphery of a blank in engagement'with the cutters between the axis of the cutter head andthe circumfer-y ent-e thereof when the cutters are in cutting engagement with the blank and means for constantly rotating the cutter head and gear blank holder, and simultaneously mov! ing the gear blank to the cutters during the cutting operation.

30.' In a gear' cutting machine, 'the' com-4.

mounted on the other shaft and adapted to support a blank to present the periphery of the latter in engagement with the face of the cutter head between the axis and the circumference of the latter, lthe shafts being disposed out' of axial alinement with eachother, and means for simultaneously rotating the two shafts in unison, and constantly moving the shaft carrying the blank at right angles to the cutter head to cause the cutters to constantly cut into the blank. 3l.. In a gear cutting machine, the combination of a cutter head having a series of spiralistically arranged cutters on its front face, the faces of the cutters at opposite ends of the series inclining in opposite directions with reference to the axis of the cutter head and the faces ofthe intervening cutters gradually changing from oney in-.

for constantly rotating the cutter head and l the gear blank holder and simultaneously constantly moving the gear blank holder toward the cutters.

32. The method of cutting a gear o1' wheel which consists in moving a plurality of tools in a curved path in a plane substantially tangent` to the pitch surface of the gear to be produced and imparting a continuous index'ing movement to the blank whereby it is indexed between the operations ofsuccessive tools.

33. The method of cutting a4 gear or wheel which consists in moving a plurality of tools in the same circular path in a plane substantially tangent to the pitch surface ofthe gear to be produced and imparting. a continuous indexing Amovement to the.

blank.

In a machine for cutting curved teeth,

the combination with a blank carrier, of a rotary tool head, a plurality of tools arranged on the tool head and movable in a curved path in a plane substantially tangent to the pitch surface of the gear to be produ'ced from the blank, the tools having en-V gagement with different teeth on the blank during asingle revolution of the tool head,

and means for producing a continuous indexing movement of the blank. I

The method of cutting gear` teeth, which consists in moving a plurality of cutters in engagement with acontinuously indexed blank and in a path tangential to the pitch surface of saidI blank, so that a plurality of said cuttersl act to cut different teeth on the blank in a single rotation of the Vcutter head.

3G. In a machinev for cutting gear teeth,-

the `combination with a rotary blank carrier, of a rotary cutter head, a plurality of cutters arranged on the head and movable across the face of the blank in a curved path and in a plane substantially tangential .to the pitch surface of the blank, andf'ineans for continuously indexing the blank, the cutters having operative engagementvwith different teeth during a single revolution of the head.

Intestimony whereof I aflix myv Signature, in lpresence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. sciiiiicx.

Witnesses:

D. C. RniNoHL, W. PARKER REINOHL. 

